Three observations.
One. Last week, I briefly mentioned how I’ve been noticing the ubiquity of cell phones with teenagers. As cell phones have shrunk in size and increased in power, we’re starting to see live TV streams and iPod-like capability on them. So, not only is anyone able to reach you at any time, you can listen to music and watch TV anywhere and any time you want away from home.
Two. I was at the mall the other day and I noticed there were TVs EVERYWHERE in addition to rotating printed oversized posters in the hallways, not to mention the normal store window advertisements. There were even advertisements inside the tables in the food court.
Three. When I get home from work, my first instinct is to kick off my shoes and turn on the television because my digital video recorder (DVR) has all my favorite shows that I was unable to watch for whatever reason stored on it. Just a few years ago, if there were two shows you were interested in that were airing on the same time, you had to make a choice and pick one to watch. Now? There are DVRs with four and more tuners, allowing people to record four or more shows airing at the same time.
There’s a phenomenon called light pollution. Most people are aware of this. Due to the rise in street lights and “always on” external lights, the skies are becoming increasingly bright, blotting out the stars. Something similar is going on with noise. The background noise of the world is starting to get louder and louder, and it’s showing no signs of stopping. People can get ahold of us any time they want either by calling or texting. Advertisements bombards our eyes and ears at an ever-increasing pace. TV viewership has gone up due to being able to record multiple hours of shows simultaneously.
When do we take the time to sit still quietly? When do we take the time to go off by ourselves and commune with nature, away from everything? Must we always be talking, listening, texting, chatting, watching? Just 25 years ago, if we were out of the house, we were out of the house. If we missed an episode, we missed an episode. We were able to listen to others and enjoy things without rush, without our attention being interrupted by ringing, vibrating, chirping.
We were able to listen to God for He has always been in the whisper. From 1 Kings 19:11-12: “The LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
With all the growing noise in the world, I’m scared we’ll miss when the Lord talks to us.
May God richly bless your week!
– Matt
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Quiet Solitude, We Hardly Knew Ye, Part II
March 19, 2009
Calvary
Comments Off on Quiet Solitude, We Hardly Knew Ye, Part II
Matt
Three observations.
One. Last week, I briefly mentioned how I’ve been noticing the ubiquity of cell phones with teenagers. As cell phones have shrunk in size and increased in power, we’re starting to see live TV streams and iPod-like capability on them. So, not only is anyone able to reach you at any time, you can listen to music and watch TV anywhere and any time you want away from home.
Two. I was at the mall the other day and I noticed there were TVs EVERYWHERE in addition to rotating printed oversized posters in the hallways, not to mention the normal store window advertisements. There were even advertisements inside the tables in the food court.
Three. When I get home from work, my first instinct is to kick off my shoes and turn on the television because my digital video recorder (DVR) has all my favorite shows that I was unable to watch for whatever reason stored on it. Just a few years ago, if there were two shows you were interested in that were airing on the same time, you had to make a choice and pick one to watch. Now? There are DVRs with four and more tuners, allowing people to record four or more shows airing at the same time.
There’s a phenomenon called light pollution. Most people are aware of this. Due to the rise in street lights and “always on” external lights, the skies are becoming increasingly bright, blotting out the stars. Something similar is going on with noise. The background noise of the world is starting to get louder and louder, and it’s showing no signs of stopping. People can get ahold of us any time they want either by calling or texting. Advertisements bombards our eyes and ears at an ever-increasing pace. TV viewership has gone up due to being able to record multiple hours of shows simultaneously.
When do we take the time to sit still quietly? When do we take the time to go off by ourselves and commune with nature, away from everything? Must we always be talking, listening, texting, chatting, watching? Just 25 years ago, if we were out of the house, we were out of the house. If we missed an episode, we missed an episode. We were able to listen to others and enjoy things without rush, without our attention being interrupted by ringing, vibrating, chirping.
We were able to listen to God for He has always been in the whisper. From 1 Kings 19:11-12: “The LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
With all the growing noise in the world, I’m scared we’ll miss when the Lord talks to us.
May God richly bless your week!
– Matt
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